A Good Premiere? It's All An ILLUSION.

The Illusionist Premiere
Chelsea West Cinema
7:30pm

Sometimes I wonder...and hope for the best at a premiere. And once again, I am let down.

Two photo pits were set up. One for A list and one for regular press.

Arrival carpet was in the shape of an 'L'. The regular press was set up on the short part and A list on the long part (along with video).

Now does it make any sense to put the 40-50 photogs, 3-4 rows, deep in the shorter arrivals area? And the 10-15 "A" list on the longer part? Oh... I forgot... God forbid the 'special' photographers had to work two rows deep. Boo-hoo.

Not only was the arrivals a packed madhouse, but their were two house shooters on the carpet, a bottled water promotion handing out water and a slew of PR clogging the carpet.

One agency had 3 SHOOTERS transmitting from the event. One in Regular Press, one in A list and one on the carpet.
THREE PHOTOGS!
THERE WERE ONLY THREE NAMES ON THE LIST!!!

Paul Giamatti; Jessica Biel; Edward Norton.
Do these names warrant Oscar like coverage?

I guess if you can't produce quality, kill 'em with quantity.
(Oh My..Who said that?)